CD Reviews

Later-years Reinhardt/Grappelli gem

07/01/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is clear cut evidence against the argument that Django's playing was slipping in his later years. Teaming up once again with longtime cohort and master violinist Stephane Grappelli, Django blazes through fourteen standards and six of his own compositions. The rhythm guitar backup that fueled their classic recordings of the 30's are subsituted with a standard jazz rhythm section of guitar, bass and drums, played by a trio of locals in Rome. The pianist, Gianni Safred, is particularly notable in the small solo space awarded him. He had obviously heard the sounds of Bud Powell which were making their way to Europe. And Django himself is breathtaking, playing with a little less reckless abandon, and little more composure than in his old days, but with the same fire and genius that has made him one of the reigning kings of his instrument. Just about all 20 tracks on this reissue are classics."

That unique Django style...

Ryan Harvey | Los Angeles, CA USA | 03/12/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Man, this guy was cool! The swingin' Django Reinhardt returns for a post-war session with his old fiddling partner Grappelli, and the result is this sensational series of tracks. The "new" Quintette of the Hot Club of France features a typical rhythmn section (piano, drums, bass) to replace the guitar entourage, but the effect is revitalizing. "Honeysuckle Rose" may be the best rendition of this Fats Waller classic, and Dj. and company also to a teriffic job with other standards like "I've Got Rhythmn" and "Beyond the Sea." And, of course, he's got his own tunes, like "Heavy Artillery" (heavy swing, man, very heavy), "Minor Swing" (it's anything but minor!), "Djangology," and his most popular number, "Daphne". Great all around! If you like swing and are looking for something a little bit different or light years away from the deluge of modern jump blues, give Django a try. (I also recommend a modern band called 8 1/2 Souvenirs who do their own unique hommage to Mr. Reinhardt and his "gypsy swing")."

Late Django at his finest

Neil L. Inglis | Bethesda, Maryland USA | 01/16/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A valuable corrective to the conventional wisdom about Reinhardt's post-war playing, which, so far from deteriorating, actually achieved deeper levels of communicative insight. In fact, I think his solo "Ou est tu, mon amour" is his finest moment on record; and you can't say fairer than that."

Great, late Django

Joseph Buchanan | Salem, MA | 09/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Just Django and Grapelli recorded in a radio studio in '47, I think.Wonderful interplay, and the sound quality is so much better than than the early Hot Club records."